Chapter 334

Time flowed like a river.

It was a common, well-worn metaphor, but that was exactly how my three days aboard the swift ship passed.

Thanks to this ship, we cut down our travel time by quite a bit.

True to the name Yangtze River Channel League, Mu Song and the river bandits of Water Dragon Stronghold were all outstanding sailors. They knew the lower reaches of the Yangtze, which ran throughout Sichuan, as well as the palms of their hands.

“We’ll be there soon, Old Master.”

I gazed at Jeok Cheongang’s wrinkled face as I murmured.

Only a few weeks had passed, but his already small, thin body was gradually weakening.

It was something I realized every time I used True Qi Guidance to bolster his qi, as I had today.

Recovery is impossible. For now, the best I can do is slow the decline.

He had only lasted this long because he was a Supreme Peak master with profound internal energy.

And… our sole hope lay with one person whose medical skills had reached a godly realm.

The Divine Physician.

A mysterious figure whose face, name, age, and even gender were unknown.

The Divine Physician first became known more than forty years ago, though, so I figured they had to be over sixty.

I’ll find the Divine Physician no matter what… and wake you up.

So please, hold on a little longer.

Just as I added those words too softly for anyone else to hear, light footsteps approached. A murmured conversation drifted through the gap in the cabin door.

“Stop, stop, stop. Move, and I’ll cut you.”

“Gasp! Please don’t! You know me.”

“I do. But not even a rat gets past me. That includes some brat who came rolling in from who knows where. You could be an assassin, for all I know.”

“An assassin? I’m a medical apprentice! How could you say something so outrageous?”

“Then what brings you here?”

“G-Great Hero Mu Song asked me to deliver a message.”

“Impossible. Unless you can get past Hyuk Mujin, Vice Squad Leader of the Jin Dragon Squad of the great Jin Family of Taiyuan, no one can—!”

Bang! Thud!

Mungyeong’s jaw dropped as the Vice Squad Leader of the Jin Dragon Squad of the great Jin Family of Taiyuan struck his head on the corner of the door and collapsed.

“He’s dead.”

“He’s not dead.”

“B-But a blow like that must have caused serious damage to his head…”

“Enough. What did Senior Mu Song tell you?”

The boy stared back and forth between Hyuk Mujin and me in terror before answering.

“H-He said we’re almost there, so you should get ready.”

“Oh, really? All right. Gather your things too.”

“I’m already packed.”

Mungyeong had little luggage.

He pulled his acupuncture and moxibustion supplies from the small bundle clutched to his chest, examined Hyuk Mujin, then sighed in relief.

“Fortunately, his head didn’t split open.”

“That’s because it’s made of rock.”

“Martial artists really are something else…”

“Oh? Getting cheeky, are we?”

“Gasp! I misspoke!”

I pretended I was about to rap him on the head, and Mungyeong flinched.

A quiet laugh escaped me.

“I’m kidding, you idiot.”

“You startled me.”

Traveling aboard a swift ship that sailed day and night was surprisingly grueling.

Whenever I finished circulating my internal energy and contemplating martial arts, I wandered the deck for some fresh air. Every time I did, I saw Mungyeong.

He was always checking on everyone else’s condition.

He was a good kid. Apparently, he was also quite skilled. Even the river bandits who had been skeptical of him at first often approached him shyly for treatment.

And after talking with him a few times, he seems pretty cheerful too.

Contrary to the mature first impression he had given me, Mungyeong had a lively, boyish side.

Once someone told him who we were, he seemed to take an interest in the Murim and started asking all sorts of questions.

“Young Master Jin, you’re the Disciple of Great Hero Jeok Cheongang, the Fire King? Wow!”

“I’ve heard all about Great Hero Mae Jonghak, the Sword Saint. Young Master Cheong must be incredible too.”

“Wow! The Beggars’ Sect! The Successor Beggar!”

“You’re the Vice Squad Leader of the Jin Dragon Squad? Ah, yes…”

In any case, Mungyeong had naturally blended into our group over those three short days.

Once we reach Chengdu, this will probably be the last time we sit across from each other and talk.

Once we reached Chengdu, our paths would naturally diverge.

I grabbed Mungyeong by the shoulder as he rose onto his toes and peeked over mine.

“Ow! That hurts!”

“What are you so curious about that you’re craning your neck like that?”

“Nothing. I just thought I saw someone’s foot through the gap in the door.”

The boy had sharp eyes. I had hurriedly covered Jeok Cheongang with leather, but Mungyeong had somehow spotted the exposed part.

Still, I answered casually without betraying any panic.

“You imagined it.”

“I don’t think I did…”

“Mungyeong.”

“Yes?”

“Do you really want to see what’s inside?”

He swallowed hard at my ominous tone and began backing away.

“W-Why are you acting like this?”

“I asked you a question. Do you want to see it?”

“No. No, I don’t!”

“Why not? Come inside and take a look. It’ll be fun.”

“Eek!”

Thump! Bang!

Mungyeong stepped on Hyuk Mujin as he backed away, fell over, then scrambled to his feet and fled.

Hyuk Mujin, whose back had been stepped on in the confusion, opened his eyes.

“H-Huh? I could’ve sworn I was just talking to Mungyeong.”

He looked around in bewilderment, then his face stiffened with shock.

“I didn’t even see him strike! He must be an assassin who has reached the Peak realm!”

Smack!

“Argh! Why did you hit me?”

“Stop talking nonsense and gather your things. We’re almost there.”

After giving Hyuk Mujin a satisfying whack on the back of the head, I returned to the cabin, moved Jeok Cheongang onto the pack frame, and stepped out onto the deck.

A giant standing at the stern of the slowing swift ship turned and greeted me.

“Oh, Junior.”

“Yeah, Senior.”

“…Is it just me, or have your answers gotten shorter?”

“It’s entirely your imagination. My voice is naturally a little quiet.”

Mu Song, the giant, stared at me with a dubious expression before calling over one of his subordinates and giving an order.

“Lower the blue flag and raise the white one.”

“Yes, Stronghold Lord.”

It might have sounded like some sort of blue-flag, white-flag game, but this was Water Dragon Stronghold’s signaling system. Apparently, it meant they had no intention of causing trouble.

“This may be an impertinent question, but are river bandits really allowed this close to such a busy area?”

“It is an impertinent question, but I’ll answer it anyway. Yes.”

“How?”

“Can you see it?”

Mu Song pointed toward the slowly approaching pier.

Tall wooden buildings stood packed closely together. Commoners passing by merely glanced at the swift ship before continuing on their way, while a few watched with curiosity.

We might have been far from the city center, but Chengdu was the capital and heart of Sichuan Province. Yet that was the extent of their reaction.

“Well? They all look used to us, don’t they?”

“They do. It’s strange how little attention they’re paying us.”

“It wasn’t always like this. Hwang Tae-gu, that son of a bitch, caused all kinds of trouble before I came along.”

Mu Song ground his teeth before continuing.

“I went through hell trying to change people’s opinion of us. Thanks to that, the authorities turn a blind eye to us now—to a point.”

“The authorities? You mean officials of the Great Nation?”

“That’s right. Dealing with us must have been a nuisance for them too. Formally requesting a fleet from the imperial court would have been burdensome, but staying on high alert every time they encountered us would have worn everyone down. So we reached a compromise.”

“What kind of compromise?”

“I’m different from Hwang Tae-gu. Only a complete idiot kills powerless commoners every time he gets the chance. It’s like killing our own customers with our own hands.”

“…”

“Of course, I refrain from killing because I dislike bloodshed. Not because of money.”

That wasn’t very convincing.

No matter how I looked at it, the only reason Mu Song didn’t kill people seemed to be money.

What a money-mad river bandit.

I couldn’t deny that Mu Song had a talent for shaking people down.

In any case, unlike Hwang Tae-gu, who robbed and killed indiscriminately, the moderate Mu Song had tried negotiating with the authorities and demonstrated considerable skill in doing so.

“Our range of activity has widened a little, while the authorities have received fewer petitions over people being killed by river bandits. Isn’t that a benefit to both sides?”

“Even so, they let you come this far?”

“Not officially, of course. Ah, here they come now.”

At the end of his gaze was a massive warship equipped with cannons.

Once the ships drew close enough that even people without martial arts could recognize one another, a middle-aged man in full armor suddenly stuck his head out from the stern.

“Who goes there?”

“General, it’s me! I’ve come to put a few people ashore.”

“People? Who?”

“My juniors. I’ll personally vouch for them.”

A river-bandit chief vouching for us. Yeah, that would go over well.

The official called back heartily.

“By all means!”

Fuck, it actually worked.

Mu Song suddenly pulled something from his robe and hurled it.

“Catch!”

The official snatched the bundle out of the air after it sailed toward him in a long arc, then grinned.

“You don’t have to do this every time. Thank you. I’ll buy you a proper drink next time.”

“Sure, let’s do that. How is the City Lord?”

“He had a son nine days ago.”

“Oh, what wonderful news. I’ll be sure to attend the doljabi.¹”

“Of course. The City Lord will be delighted.”

“Take care, then.”

“I wish you martial fortune, Stronghold Lord!”

For fuck’s sake. The country’s in fine shape.

After their cordial exchange, the warship turned back the way it had come, and the swift ship glided leisurely toward the pier.

“No need to drop anchor, right?”

“Huh? Oh, right.”

“Are you shocked? That’s how the world works. Still, you finally look like a young prodigy your age.”

Fair enough. Worse things happened in the real world, so what was the big deal?

I gave Mu Song, who was laughing heartily, a respectful clasped-fist salute.

“Thank you for your help, Senior. We had a comfortable journey thanks to you.”

“This was nothing. Hardly worth calling help. Just say the word. I am Ship-Fire Boy Mu Song!”

“Ah, truly the greatest Senior! You’ve turned the Yangtze upside down!”

“Ha ha ha!”

I grinned along with Mu Song as he roared with laughter.

“Then I’ll ask for your help again on our way back.”

“…”

“Senior?”

Mu Song stared at me, his eyes trembling.

“I’ll… send my subordinates.”

“Thank you!”

Yangtze taxi. What a steal.

Was it just my imagination, or was the swift ship moving much faster than usual?

I watched it cut frantically through the water as though fleeing a sea monster, then turned around.

The Bermuda Triangle and a beaming young medical apprentice stood there.

“Thanks to you, we arrived quickly. Thank you.”

“The men who rowed and steered did all the work, so why are you thanking me? I don’t know where you’re going or what for, but stay healthy.”

We had only spent a few days together, but I thought we had formed a pretty good bond.

He was usually innocent and carefree, yet surprisingly thoughtful. It was admirable how well he had endured the pain of losing his parents at such a young age.

I sincerely hoped he would become a fine physician.

“I don’t have a parting gift, but use this for travel expenses.”

I took out a few silver nyang² and pressed them into his hand. Mungyeong stared at me in surprise.

“Y-Young Master, this is…”

“It’s fine. Think of it as allowance from your hyung.³”

“But it’s too much.”

“Then pay me back later. Once you become a physician who can put Hua Tuo⁴—or rather, the Divine Physician—to shame, come find me at the Jin Family of Taiyuan.”

“The Divine Physician…?”

“That’s right. If you’re going to do it, you might as well become the best.”

Mungyeong blinked, looking back and forth between me and the silver nyang² in his hand. A faint smile touched his lips.

“Yes. I will.”

“Good. I’m leaving now. Take care.”

After the Bermuda Triangle and I exchanged farewells with Mungyeong, we turned to leave.

Hyuk Mujin, who had suffered through prolonged seasickness, quietly came up beside me and spoke.

“Captain, I’m exhausted. Can’t we rest for half a day before leaving?”

“No. It’s only another half day, so rest when we get there.”

“That’s only half a day if we use a movement technique. And I heard the people of the Sichuan Tang Clan are terrifying… We’ll have to be careful even when we breathe.”

“Then don’t rest. Die.”

“Is that any way to speak to your right-hand man?”

“What? I can’t hear you. My left pinky is mumbling something.”

Just as Hyuk Mujin’s lips jutted out a mile—

“Um, did you say you were going all the way to the Sichuan Tang Clan?”

“…”

“…”

We slowly turned our heads.

Mungyeong stood there, his eyes sparkling like morning stars.

“The thing is, I happen to be on my way to the Sichuan Tang Clan too. If you would allow me to accompany you, I would never forget this kindness even if this body died and died, then died ten thousand deaths more, until whether my soul existed or not—”

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“I get it. Shut up and follow us.”

Fuck. Now it’s the Bermuda Quadrilateral.